Places to travel to during Ramadan
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and prayers, and is observed by Muslims worldwide. If you’re a Muslim looking to travel during Ramadan, here are some destinations with Halal friendly food, easily accessible prayer facilities and of course, plenty to see and do.
Since travelling during fasting month can be pretty challenging, here are a couple of tips to help you make your travels that much easier:
- Be sure to pick a flight that departs after iftar and lands before sahur so that you won’t need to travel while fasting.
- While planning your itinerary, be sure not to overload your schedules so you don’t tire out!
- Bring along your own prayer supplies in case the city you are travelling to does not have any
- Keep an emergency snack pack with you in case at the time of breaking fast, there aren’t any Halal food establishments near you
1. Osaka, Japan
Home to sights like the Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle and Japan’s tallest skyscraper the Harukas300, there’s plenty to see and do in Osaka. Be sure to pre-book your Osaka Amazing Pass on Klook to enjoy unlimited rides on the subway, buses and trams and free admission to 30 different attractions!
Another highlight of Osaka is definitely Universal Studios Japan. Be a wizard for a day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or join in on the Minions mischief at the Minion Park. Don’t forget to pre-book your admission tickets on Klook to skip the lines!
While the theme park has no dedicated prayer room, you may ask the staff in guest service for a room to pray and they will gladly guide you along.
Plus, Osaka is known to be the kitchen of Japan and of course you can’t miss out on feasting on local favourites like Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki once you’ve broken your fast.
Here’s some Halal food restaurants that you can check out:
- Bulls for Halal beef sukiyaki and shabu-shabu
- Ayam-ya Namba for Ramen
- Matsuri for Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki
Some of these restaurants even have prayer rooms within the restaurant space!
2. Hong Kong
Hong Kong Disneyland alone is reason enough to visit the city. With the latest Ant-Man and the Wasp attraction and the existing Marvel Iron Man attraction, if you’re reeling in Avengers End Game withdrawal symptoms, you’ll cure them here!
The park even has a dedicated prayer room for all Muslim visitors located right next to Explorer’s Club Restaurant. Do note that prayer mats and garment are not provided, so remember to bring your own!
Ride in the glass bottomed Ngong Ping 360 cable car and enjoy the stunning views of the city or sail on the AquaLuna sunset sail to take in the sights of the harbour.
A large part of experiencing Hong Kong is also feasting on the delicious Cantonese eats. Here are some places to check out:
- Islamic Centre Canteen for Dim Sum
- Wai Kee for Roasted Duck
- Explorer’s Club Restaurant in Hong Kong Disneyland
3. Seoul, Korea
Put on a Hanbok and roam the Gyeongbokgung Palace for a day feeling like royalty or visit one (or both) of Seoul’s most popular theme parks – Everland and Lotte World. With so much to see and do in the theme parks, you definitely want to pre-book your tickets on Klook to skip the lines. Everland theme park has a prayer room located in the same building as Mystery Mansion while in Lotte World, the prayer room is located on the 3rd floor.
Fans of the hit Korean variety show Running Man should definitely have a go at figuring out the puzzles and gathering R! Coins for yourself at the Running Man Experience Centre.
Halal Korean restaurants in Seoul:
- EID – Korean food
- Busan Jib – Korean BBQ
- BoA Guesthouse – Dosiraks
4. Taipei, Taiwan
The Taipei 101 observatory is the one attraction you must visit while in Taiwan. Head up to the observation deck and take in the views of the city at sunset and stay till dark to see a completely different view. Pre-book your Taipei 101 E tickets on Klook to skip the lines!
Go on a day trip out of the city to Jiufen and Shifen where you can write your wishes on paper lanterns, see waterfalls or visit the famous A Mei Teahouse seen in Spirited Away.
Halal food options in Taipei:
- Silks Palace at National Palace Museum for Taiwanese cuisine
- Chang Beef Noodle Soup for beef noodles
- Ice Monster for dessert
5. Penang, Malaysia
Go on a rickshaw ride around the beautiful Georgetown streets of Penang where you’ll find an eclectic mix of old and new. Snap quirky #OOTDs with the wall murals or just visit the beautiful cafes. You should also couple your visit with a stay in one of these beautiful heritage hotels.
Halal food you can’t miss:
- Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu
- Roti Canai Agryll Road
- Hameed Pata Mee Sotong
- Laksa Janggus
- Ayu Mee Udang
6. Singapore
Singapore is known to be a melting pot of cultures and with 15% of its population Muslims, Muslim travellers can be sure that halal food and prayer facilities are easily available! Visit Universal Studios Singapore and have a go at movie themed rides like The Mummy Returns and the dueling roller coasters of Battlestar Galactica. The prayer rooms inside Universal Studios Singapore at Sci-Fi City, next to Battlestar Galactica’s lockers.
The award winning Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari are also things you must leave time in your schedule for. There is a prayer room near the Trams parking area which is used by staff for prayers, you can approach any staff member for permission to use this room.
If you’d like to bask in the festivities of Ramadan, there is also a bustling Ramadan Bazaar that happens every year at Geylang Serai. Slated to run from May 3 to Jun 5, check it out if you’re in the area!
Halal food places you must try in Singapore:
- Satay by the Bay at Gardens By The Bay for hawker food
- House of Seafood for Chilli Crab
7. Bali, Indonesia
While Bali is located in Indonesia where a majority of the population in Muslim, you don’t have to worry about not being able to find food stalls due to Ramadan closures since most people who live in Bali are actually Hindu.
Go on a sunrise hike up Mount Batur or take a photo on the iconic Bali Swing against the backdrop of the rice fields. Visit the beautiful Uluwatu Temple at sunset and enjoy a fire dance performance by the locals.
Halal eats in Bali:
- Warung KKN for Nasi Campur
- Bale Udang Mang Engking for Seafood
- Ayam Bakar Wong Solo for Ayam Bakar
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Visit the iconic twin Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur or if you’re up for it, head up the glass observation deck of the KL Tower! Don’t forget to drop by the Mini Zoo at the foot of the KL Tower before heading up.
The rainbow stairs of the Batu Caves are another iconic place to visit and of course if you’re travelling with family, Sunway Lagoon is a great way to keep the kids entertained.
Halal food in Kuala Lumpur:
- Muhibbah Seafood Restaurant for seafood
- Little Penang Cafe for Penang food
- Village Park for Nasi Lemak
